I am busy integrating some useful eBay functionality into TCG, and wanted to get an idea from the audience as to how you bid on eBay.

Sniping is when you wait until the last minute to place a bid, just before the auction ends. There are two reasons that most people do this - (a) you don't want to show interest and make the item appear more desirable to potential bidders, and (b) you don't want to give the opportunity to other bidders to reconsider what they are really willing to pay.

So in general, do you snipe? Sometimes, often, not at all? Don't buy on eBay? Etc.

Sometimes I will snipe if I really want something but there isn't much on ebay that is 'must have' for me any more. More often now I put a bid in when I see the item and if it win-fine, if not-no biggie.

I will snipe on something that I really, really want, but most auctions end during the Antipodean night, so I generally can't be bothered. It is also a technique that isn't so effective now that everyone does it.

So remy and Stu, it sounds like you manually snipe? There is software out there to schedule snipes with (auctionsniper.com for example) - curious if you have used something like that, avoid it, or were unaware.